The Decline in Tourism Demand Due to Ceuta's Migration Crisis
The ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta, coupled with Morocco's role in the situation, has significantly impacted the demand for travel from Spain to the North African nation. Tourism professionals are witnessing a sharp decline in bookings for the last quarter of the year, alongside a wave of cancellations for previously arranged trips. Carlos Abella, the Secretary General of the Tourism Board, estimates that cancellations could reach as high as 80% for the month of September, which is typically a peak travel period for Morocco. 'The situation is extremely complicated, both in the short and medium term,' Abella remarked, reflecting the growing concerns within the tourism sector.
Spain's Crucial Role in Moroccan Tourism
Spain stands as the second-largest source of visitors to Morocco, following France. According to the Moroccan National Office of Tourism (ONMT), more than four million individuals from Spain visited Morocco in 2024, with projections increasing to 4.2 million by November 2025, accounting for approximately 23% of international arrivals. However, it is essential to note that not all these journeys are made by Spanish tourists; a portion is attributed to Moroccan nationals residing in Spain who return to visit family or for personal matters. A more refined statistic from the Moroccan Tourism Observatory recorded around 1.5 million Spanish tourists in 2024, highlighting the variation in data sources regarding traveler metrics.
In recent years, Morocco has seen substantial growth in its tourism sector, welcoming 19.8 million visitors in 2025, which is a 14% increase from the previous year, as reported by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism. The associated revenue reached 116.2 billion dirhams (approximately 10.6 billion euros) in 2024, marking a 38.4% increase compared to 2019. The travel sector now constitutes about 7.3% of Morocco's GDP, alongside remittances from Moroccan expatriates. Furthermore, tourism supports around 8.2% of employment and accounts for nearly 41% of service exports, as indicated by OECD data. Consequently, the slowdown from Spain, being its second-largest source market, poses a threat to a vital sector for employment and foreign currency influx.
The rising popularity of Morocco as a destination has prompted several Spanish hotel chains to bolster their presence in the country. For example, Barceló Hotel Group operates eleven properties across key Moroccan cities such as Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat, and Agadir. Despite the drop in Spanish demand, the company has reported no immediate negative impact on its business, stating, 'Our booking records in Moroccan hotels remain within the usual range for this season.' This resilience can be attributed to the international nature of their clientele, which includes tourists from France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and other markets, in addition to Moroccan guests.
Similarly, Riu Hotels has expressed a parallel assessment of the situation, stating that the events in Ceuta have had 'no direct effect' on hotel occupancy or operations, primarily because Spain is not among their most significant source markets for this destination. With over twenty years in Morocco, in partnership with local group Tikida, Riu manages six establishments and continues to advance its plans in the country, having recently renovated the Riu Palace Tikida Agadir and planning upgrades for the Riu Palace Tikida Taghazout by the summer of 2027.
Airlines have also made strong commitments to Morocco, with Ryanair operating bases in Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Tangier, and, since this year, Rabat, utilizing sixteen aircraft. The airline connects numerous Spanish airports with Moroccan destinations and has even expanded its domestic network within the kingdom. Vueling has focused its growth in Barcelona, offering direct flights to Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir, Essaouira, Nador, and Fez.
So far, neither hotel chains nor airlines have announced any structural changes to their plans. The industry believes that the duration of the current crisis will determine whether the current slowdown in Spanish bookings is merely a transient episode or if it will begin to affect overall occupancy rates and investments in one of the Mediterranean's most rapidly growing tourism markets.
As reported by lavanguardia.com.
